I was not sure how long I remained there. Still, undisturbed and peaceful until my body started becoming numb due to the cold water. I lazily thought it was time to get out. I had my fun, until I realized what was happening and fear flooded me. My head began to throb as it always did just before the trance took me. I reached for the rocks at the edge of the river, at least I thought I had, but my body was already taken by the curse. My vision became blurry, and the last lucid part of my mind screamed at me to get out of the water. Everything turned white as my eyes began to glow.
The last thing I felt was the water sweeping me under and replacing the air in my lungs.
My chest hurt, but I was no longer submerged in the water. I was here by the river, yet I was not alone. He was with me. His laugh reached me and my heart grew. I loved the way he laughed.
"Come with me, please take my hand." I looked at him hesitantly. His face was lost in the haze, but although I could not see it, I knew it was Art. "I don't bite." I chuckled, and he laughed, obviously pleased that he had made me smile. "I'll behave I promise. I don't want to give you any excuses to use those axes of yours on me." This time I laughed and in my heart I knew he was smiling. "Scout's honor." He added, offering me his hand once again.
I took it, and he pulled me forwards. We ran along the edge of the river until we got to the last cluster of trees near the far right. He walked to the one on our left and pulled me to him. My eyes widened then I frowned. There was a basket placed beside the tree and a blanket.
“It’s a picnic. You know, ‘cause people eat from time to time.”
I pushed him, and he laughed. "I know what it is, but what is the meaning of this?"
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against his body. My pulse picked up speed as his arms embraced me and his manly scent intoxicated my senses. I was suddenly nervous yet impatient for him to kiss me. He cupped my neck, and his head tilted. He leaned in.
"I wanted to do something for you, to thank you. You agreed to give me a chance, and I fully intend to take every advantage of that. I will do whatever it takes for you to love me because you are all I'll ever want. I want you in a way I never thought could exist. I love you, all of you, and I need you to love me too."
His lips brushed mine as he spoke and I gave into his arms. He claimed my lips and the kiss spoke the words he had yet to say. His lips moved on me reverently. His hands caressed my back and sides as though I was a Goddess he had been permitted to touch against all rules, and my heart burst in his arms. The love I felt for him could no longer be restrained. No matter how hard I fought it because it had grown to the point where it consumed my very being.
“You need not try to make me love you…” I said, pulling back from the kiss and looking into his eyes. “Because I already do. With all my heart, in a way I never thought possible, I love you. ”
“Mo chiad leannan”—my first love. He whispered, claiming my lips again, along with my heart.
He laid me down on the blanket and pressed his body onto mine, my arms wrapped around him as I let go, and he made love to me.
* * *
My lungs burned as the water spilled from my lips and was replaced by oxygen once again. I coughed, as hands pressed my chest repeatedly. I forced my eyes open and the bright light of day blinded me. I cringed gasping for air, as another coughing fit overtook me. Delicate hands pulled me up, helping me sit while they patted my back. I was not strong enough to sit. Resting my elbow on the grass, I held myself until the coughing receded. When I was finally able to open my eyes again, Asrhia's face came into view. She was kneeling beside me.
“You will be all right. I pulled you out in time. You are all right.” She repeated over and over, frazzled as though trying to convince herself.
“You pulled me out of the water?” I asked noticing my clothes were laid on top of my skin covering me. I blinked, trying to bring comfort to my eyes. They stung.
"Yes," she answered simply, yet I could feel the distress in her voice. When my eyes found hers again, I noticed they were wet with unshed tears.
“How did you find me?”
She lowered her gaze from mine. “I was already here.”
“You were following me?”
“From afar so you could not see me.”
“Stop following me,” I ordered, indignation flooded me and I got up.
“I just saved your life.” She countered.
"I am immortal. I do not need you to save me!"
"Not if your heart stops beating you are not!" She yelled back, and I turned to look at her. "If you drowned in that river and the current took you, you would never be found. If your heart is never prompted to beat again, you are as good as dead."
"Stop following me," I ordered once more, putting on my pants.
“You must learn to control your powers, Eisha. You have to accept your destiny. You are an Ovate, like I…”
“Do not dare to call me that again!” My voice filled with venom as I pointed my finger at her. Anger and pain flowed through my veins. “I will not warn you twice.” I pulled the shirt over my head and began to walk away.
She took a deep breath. "Being an Ovate is not what threatens you. Please understand that. Your ability will not hurt you. It is your unwillingness to accept your power that puts you at risk. If you continue to deny it, and allow it to take control of you, it will kill you, Eisha.”
Her voice broke on the last sentence, but there was no uncertainty in her statement. I looked back at her and into her eyes.
“Have you seen it happen?” She nodded, and her eyes watered again. “Here, today?”
“This was only one of many.”
Her statement forced me to take a step back. I swallowed as I stared her, shocked. The fear that I had tried to bury deep inside me resurfaced, filling every inch of me. "I shall never be an Ovate," I repeated my vow, and she took an exasperated breath.
“I can help you.”
“I will never be an Ovate.”
“Ugh!! Why are you so obstinate? I…” she pressed her lips together as though to stop herself from saying something else, and walked passed me.
“Where are you going?”
“I am leaving.”
“Good, and do not follow me again.”
She whirled around as though she had decided to speak after all. "You were born from one of the most powerful Ovates your clan has ever seen. If you were to embrace that ability, you would be even stronger than she ever was. I have traveled a great deal to help you and Brina. I am putting my life at risk merely by being here, yet that risk to me is worth taking if it means I can help the two of you through these trials, so you can become who you must become." She paused for a second, and I took a deep breath contemplating her words. "The least you could do is let me follow you to make sure you do not put yourself in a position where I have to save your stubborn ass again!"
She stomped her foot and crossed her arms to emphasize her point. I pressed my lips together fighting the urge to smile. Her words played in my mind again, and I took a deep breath walking towards her.
"I do not need you following me." She dragged her hands down her face, and I chuckled. "Instead, meet me outside of the village tomorrow morning at five. I hope your body has been conditioned for endurance because we shall go for a run."
“What? No!”
I chuckled, walking away.
* * *
My eyes instantly went to the cave as I walked my way back to the village. I had no idea how much time had passed while I nearly drowned and witnessed the vision, yet I was certain I had missed the Warrior training. Before I realized it, my feet were taking me to the cave. I stood just outside and stared at the vines. What on earth was I doing here? The thought had barely crossed my mind when my hand settled on them, and the vines shimmered slithering away. I walked into the cave, once again following the enchanted lanterns until I entered Felix's room. My gaze instantly went to the glowing cocoon, and I pulled a chair from the small table, w
alking towards him. I sat in front of him and allowed my gaze to roam the length of his body. It was strange to see him in that film. It was transparent enough that I could see him, yet white enough that I could not distinguish the details on his body. I realized then he was bare inside it. I could see the skin on his chest and along his arms and legs. I wondered then if I could touch him through the film. It seemed soft and delicate. I was almost certain my fingers would go right through it if I applied enough pressure. The light traveled along the veins of the shell, and I looked at them fascinated by the magic. Reaching for him, I gently placed my hand over his chest like I had done the first time and felt the warmth on my skin as the light radiated it from it. My eyes followed the energy exchange as it flowed from my hand and into him. How was it doing that? Most importantly, why?"
“It is fascinating, is it not?”
Ronan's voice startled me off the chair, and I pressed my back against the stone wall. I looked at him shocked.
He frowned. “I am terribly sorry. I did not think I could startle you. I was sure you had felt my presence from the moment I entered the cave.”
“Of course,” I said, taking a step towards him. I cleared my throat. “Yes, it is fascinating. I had never seen magic like this before.”
Ronan’s eyes roamed my face as though trying to decipher what had happened to me. “Are you all right?”
“I am.”
He nodded not convinced. “Cyn shall be here soon. He sent me ahead of him.”
“Oh. I only came to check on him. See if he had awoken.”
“Of course,” Ronan said amused.
I frowned as Ronan walked towards Felix, and placed one hand on his forearm. Just like when I had touched him, the area was illuminated, and the light flowed down to Felix.
“What is the purpose of that.”
Ronan looked at me, smiling. “I’m helping him heal by feeding him my energy. We Warriors are strong, and he needs it more than I do.”
“You are giving him your energy? Why on earth would you do that?”
He looked at me for a second as though trying to decipher something, his gaze then settled on Felix.
"Because he is weak and he requires it to survive, just as you did when you first returned from the battle and I healed you, a chara.” Cyn’s voice reached me, forcing me to turn. He entered the cave and walked towards me. “I am glad to see you, although I must admit I did not expect to find you here.”
"I did not expect to come," I answered truthfully. "I was on my way back to the village and decided to check on him and see if he had awakened yet."
“Are you well?” He asked, sincerely concerned about me. I hugged him.
“I am, a chara. You need not worry about me.”
He nodded and walked towards Ronan. “Thank you, brother.”
“Of course.”
Ronan moved away, and Cyn took his place. He put one of his hands on Felix’s shoulder, and the other on his head, just as he did when he blessed us. His lips began to move, and my eyes widened as I realized that was exactly what he was doing. Blessing him. My stunned eyes met Ronan's who gave me a small smile then returned to Cyn. The light flow that emanated from his hands was significantly greater than it had been from my touch or Ronan's. Cyn's eyes were closed as he began reciting a healing prayer. I could not understand what he was doing. Why would he bless a Roman after everything they had done to us? I turned and stormed out of the cave. A hand caught my arm, and I whirled around, finding Ronan behind me.
“Please calm, Eisha.”
"Calm? You ask me to calm?" I said, pulling my arm out of his grasp. "He is one of many that have haunted us for centuries." My eyes watered as Phelan's face came to my mind. "He is the reason Phelan is dead, and instead of letting him die as he well deserves, we are going to great lengths to save his life. Cyn is in there blessing him, asking the Goddess, our Mother Goddess to love him, a Roman, when all he has brought into our lives is pain, and you want me to calm??”
"I am not excusing what he has done. He has a lot to repent for, and it will be a long road before he can be forgiven, but he is a human being and his life matters."
“You sound like Cynwrig.”
He nodded. "I know. Yet he is right. Does Felix not deserve an opportunity to recognize what he has done? To repent for it and make right his wrongs?" I did not have an answer for him, and he was well aware of that. "You say you are not a Druid, yet there is much good in you. You are as honorable and virtuous as Cyn is, and I know that if Felix were to awake today and ask for your forgiveness, you would give it to him."
"That would have to be a great apology," I answered, crossing my arms.
"Legends will be told after it." I chuckled, and he smiled. "I know you care, even if the pain does not allow you to accept that now. You will. I saw you giving him your energy too in there."
“I was not aware of what it meant,” I answered quickly.
He sighed. "You care for that life because it is what we were taught by our Mòr Sagart, and by Cyn after him. You care that he survives regardless of whether he is a Roman or not." His gaze turned caring, and he squeezed my shoulder affectionately. "I was where you are not long ago, but I have already made peace with my pain. It is time you made peace with yours."
The next morning, I found Asrhia just outside the village as I crossed the wards. My eyes roamed the long black cloak she wore over her garments, and I frowned.
“You do not intend to go running in that cloak. Do you?”
“Well blessed morning to you too, Eisha. How did I sleep you ask? Oh, I slept very well. Thank you for asking, and yes I concur it is a rather beautiful morning. How did you sleep?”
I chuckled. “Blessed morning, Asrhia. I slept rather well, thank you.”
She grinned and walked towards me. “I must wear my cloak at all times, so yes I will be running with it on, If you do not mind.”
I frowned once more. "As a matter of fact, I do. You cannot possibly exercise in those garments. Do you not own a pair of trousers or anything you can use instead?" She sighed and shook her head. "May I see the garments underneath?"
She looked at me hesitantly then opened her cloak. A long, dark-blue linen dress covered her body. It was simple and tied at the waist by a leather cord. Very similar to the ones our women wore.
“That will not do.” I turned around and opened a portal to my hut. “Come on, follow me.” Her eyes widened as I crossed into my room. I looked over my shoulder for her. She was still standing in the same spot. “Are you not allowed to come into my hut?” I asked unsure of what rules she had to obey to be among us.
“I am not quite sure.” She said staring at my room concerned. She sighed and crossed into it, joining me inside. She looked around as the portal closed and I could see her eyes grow wide with fascination.
“Are your huts not like ours?”
She shook her head. “Not at all.”
I frowned and walked towards the dresser. I reached for a pair of cotton pants and a top from the ones Art had given me to train and tried to ignore the fact that once again the smallest of things around me reminded me of him. I had already spent the night thinking about that kiss, and its ramifications. All I wanted was some silence in my thoughts. I needed to run.
“Here, you may borrow these.”
“Thank you.”
The smile she gave me warmed my heart. I stepped aside so she could walk to the partition and change. Reaching for another pair of shoes I placed them by my bed. “You can use these too. They will help you in the run.”
When she stepped out, I smiled. She looked so different with modern clothes. She sat on the bed and slipped her feet into the shoes then I handed her a hair band, and she picked up her hair just as I had. She smiled, and I could see the relief on her face.
"These clothes feel much better, do they not?"
“Oh, yes!” She sighed and stretched loving the garments.
I stared at her smile for another moment. She seemed f
amiliar to me for some reason I could not explain. Had I seen her in one of my visions? I pondered it for a few seconds then sighed, unable to find a reason behind it.
“All right. Let us go.”
* * *
We ran along the river, and I could honestly say it was taking a greater effort for me not to laugh than to run. Our pace was considerably slow compared to what I was accustomed to. Asrhia was having the toughest of times keeping up. Her footing was all over the place, her legs and arms were not firm enough, and her back was in the wrong angle yet she was not giving up, and I commended her for that.
We stopped for the millionth time so she could catch her breath, and I noticed she held her side while she mumbled something that sounded dangerously close to a curse word. I decided then that she had endured enough for one day.
“Alright, I think you had enough, young lady. Let us get you some water.”
I held her hand and placed the other on her lower back, guiding her to the center of the stream, and helping her carefully step on the rocks. I brought a drink to my lips and exhaled deeply enjoying the fresh air, and the coolness of the liquid as it traveled down my throat. I washed my face and neck then stood. She followed me out of the stream, and we walked towards the trees at the edge of the forest. We sat down to allow her to finish calming her breathing.
Unwanted Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 3) Page 5